Pulpit or Personal

by Jefferson David Tant So, what do I mean by the title “Pulpit of Personal?” It has to do with the preacher’s challenge to preach the gospel. Obviously, there are different ways by which we can shine the light of the gospel into a world full of darkness. We can publicly preach from the pulpit,…

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Did I sin by not talking to my stepfather?

Question: Hi, My stepfather passed away unexpectedly and I feel extremely guilty for not reaching out beforehand and trying to save his soul. He “raised” me, but love from my stepfather was never shown. I don’t remember him ever telling me he loved me and only twice telling me he was proud of me. I…

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Fruitful Christians

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Fruitful-Christians.mp3 by Jeffery W. Hamilton Text John 15:1-8   I.         We know that Jesus’ words in John 15 concerning the vine and branches are dealing with individual Christians and not denominations.             A.        Jesus is the vine, each one of us are branches off that vine, and God is the vinedresser.             B.        But don’t get so caught up in…

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I want my friend to be saved but she isn’t listening

Question: Sir, Keep up the good work. I want my friend to be saved. She is falling away from Jesus Christ constantly and she is only fifteen! She knows the truth, but she just does not want to listen. She is falling away like Sodom and Gomorrah! My question is who are the two witnesses?…

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What is your experience with marketing your church?

Question: Hi, I am forming a team to explore how to market our church. We are only 5 years old and have about 60 members. We have a thin website and a members-only Facebook page. Please share your lessons learned on marketing your church. Thank you. Answer: We don’t have a church. We belong to…

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The Reality of Unreason

by Matthew W. Bassford One of the most fascinating exchanges in the New Testament appears toward the end of Paul’s defense before the Jerusalem mob, in Acts 22:17-21. The incident that Paul relates took place shortly after his conversion, after he had fled from Damascus and returned to Jerusalem, still preaching the gospel. While he…

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Am I lost because I passed up an opportunity to teach?

Question: Since being baptized, I have been interested and active in soul winning. I taught Bible classes for children, worked with VBS, worked with a bus ministry, showed the Jule Miller Film Strips, and sent out Bible correspondence course lessons. I attend worship and Bible study three times a week. When my husband was in…

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Examining the Great Commission

by Jefferson David Tant Among the most familiar Bible passages that are known and memorized, are the words Christ spoke to his disciples before he returned to his home that he left 33 years before. There is more to the passage than memorized words, and we want to give some thought to what Christ said.…

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What are some practical ways to spread the gospel?

Question: Good morning Brother Hamilton, I’d like to design a flyer to distribute in my hometown to inform people about our congregation. We live in a rural area that has numerous churches, and many of the churches of Christ are institutional. The few non-institutional congregations are small and shrinking. Your website’s home page is a…

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Truth Is Not Geographically Convenient

by Perry Hall I’m not a fan of “Field of Dreams Evangelism.” That is, “Let’s build a church building on the other side of town to make it easier for people to come to church.” In other words, “If we build it, they will come.” Good intentions, but I doubt much evangelism will take place…

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Young People’s Program

by Robert Turner In the small town of Sundridge, Ontario, Ca. 300 miles north of the U.S. — Canadian border, the young folk of a small congregation (45-50) put many of their U. S. counterparts to shame. They are High School and under: with the same love for and participation in sports, parties, etc., that…

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Firearms and Teaching Children

by Matthew W. Bassford In 2010 and 2011, I became the father of two extremely inquisitive children. In 2019, I also became the owner of a firearm. Naturally, I gave some thought to how these two areas of my life should interact. Should I keep my gun locked away from my kids and forbid them…

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How do I deal with the fear that my dad may never change?

Question: Hello Bro. Hamilton, I just need some clarification about a situation. My parents are not members of the church of Christ, but I am. We went off and on when I was growing up but stopped because my dad didn’t take us anymore. However, we went back, and I was baptized when I was…

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The Wise Teacher Guards His Tongue

by Jefferson David Tant “He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding” (Proverbs 17:27). Those who preach and teach are people of words. That’s obvious, as that’s how we proclaim the message. But how we use our tongue can have a great influence on…

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So You Want to be a Preacher?

by Jefferson David Tant There is no more noble aspiration than to be a servant of the Most High God in seeking the lost and encouraging the saved. After more than 65 years of engaging in this labor of love, please allow me to share some perspectives from my viewpoint. With my father and grandfather…

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Was the great commission only commanded to the apostles?

Question: Was the great commission only commanded to the apostles? Answer: “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy…

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Measuring Acceptability

by Whit Sasser In II Corinthians 8:12 we read, “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.” This principle of God’s word is to be respected, as well as all others. Sadly, there seem to be many areas…

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Are You Discouraged?

by Jefferson David Tant Whit Sasser, a friend who preaches up in Appleton, Wisconsin, recently had a short piece in the church’s weekly bulletin titled “Measuring Acceptability.” His good comments have encouraged me to add some thoughts of my own, as well as to build on some writing I have done on the matter of…

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Don’t Throw Your Heart to Dogs

by Raymond Gonzalez Sentry Magazine, March 2001 “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you” (Matthew 7:6). Not in my wildest dreams as a babe in Christ, did I think to apply this proverb to brethren. The wording…

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“Go Ye” Means “Go Me”

by Jefferson David Tant This is written with some reluctance. I feel as Paul must have felt as he tried to make a point to help his readers. “Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little” (II…

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The Wisdom of Winning Souls

by Charles N. Spence, Jr. Sentry Magazine, December 2000 and March 2001 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). How does winning souls demonstrate wisdom? When Christians involve themselves in this task, they understand that they are doing that which the Lord has…

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Glorifying the Word of God

by Jefferson David Tant What comes to mind when you read the phrase “glorifying the Word of God?” That a Christian should live so that his life testifies that the Word is living in him? That’s certainly a valid point. That reminds us of our Lord’s admonition in Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before…

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Dentists and the Gospel Message

by Alan Smith “Open wider,” requested the dentist, as he began his examination of the patient. “Oh, no!” he said. “You’ve got the biggest cavity I’ve ever seen — the biggest cavity I’ve ever seen.” “OK Doc!” replied the patient. “I’m scared enough without you saying something like that twice.” “I didn’t!” said the dentist.…

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What Should be Our Appeal?

by Jefferson David Tant Some four or five students from our local high school have been having some Bible studies with me. Some have come for weeks, but one had come only once. I asked her if she would be interested in studying some more. She replied that she preferred to go where they appealed…

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Nourishment

by Jefferson David Tant The pictures of little Emma before and after receiving nourishment are typical of a huge number of starving children in impoverished nations around the world. Manna Pack is the product of “Feed My Starving Children,” and was the work of Cargill food scientists and colleagues from General Mills and Pillsbury, who…

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God’s Distribution Plan

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Gods-Distribution-Plan.mp3 Text: I Corinthians 1:18-31   I.         God promised a kingdom that would never fall             A.        Daniel 7:13-14 – One that would never be destroyed             B.        Not so with human kingdoms                         1.         Every empire of the past has collapsed at some point                         2.         It has been noted that democracies tend not to last more than 200 years or so                         3.         People…

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Whose Job Is It to Help Wash?

by Jefferson David Tant And just what job am I writing about? Washing cars? Washing dishes? No, I”m writing about something infinitely more important than earthly tasks. I”m writing about “washing souls.” Paul wrote in Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men …” We are aware that “Christ…

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When the Number Is Few

by Terry Wane Benton We often show a lack of faith when we compare a small church to a large church. Some want to hide in a large crowd and they fail to grow spiritually. Jonathan had the right quality of faith. Jonathan and his armorbearer attack the Philistines I Samuel 14:12-14″Then Jonathan said to…

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We Met at the Bus Station

by Jefferson David Tant Former bus station in Anniston, AL When I first saw her, she was standing with her sister and brother-in-law, bidding farewell after a visit. After they left, we discovered the bus would be delayed perhaps two hours in the small town of Anniston, AL. I was traveling by bus from Birmingham…

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Fire in My Bones

by Jefferson David Tant The prophet Jeremiah faced many difficulties in his life. God assigned him to speak to the nation and warn them of things to come, and implore them to repent and serve God, but Jeremiah was persecuted and vilified. This prompted him to just shut up and not bother to speak anymore.…

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A Young Soul Winner

by Jefferson David Tant “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19) Nancy Harber was only 14 (well, almost 15), and at this young age had already experienced one of the greatest joys of…

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Spreading the Word: Is Noah Our Last Resort?

by Floyd Chappelear Stand, October 15, 1993 If one were to ask what the purpose of Jesus’ coming to the earth was, what might we answer? One might say it was to establish the church and that answer would be acceptable because Jesus did come in fulfillment of prophecy; which included the establishment of the…

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Questions

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/Questions.mp3 Text: II Timothy 2:14-18   I.         Many years ago, a set of false teaching was being promoted in the congregation. When the false teacher was asked by the congregation to explain himself, he gave a list of questions to one of the younger members, who passed it on the older members.             A.        I found it necessary…

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A Tribute to Miss Bernice

by Royce Bell I’m so deeply saddened, yet rejoice in the victory, in mentioning the passing of Bernice Boyes, of Lake Elsinore CA, at 105 years. She was the single best evangelist with whom I’ve been associated in my near 50 years of preaching. Berry Kercheville worked with sister Boyes as a young preacher, and…

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The Words We Speak

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/The-Words-We-Speak.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Ephesians 4:17-24   I.         There is a Proverb that stands out in my mind – Proverbs 26:18-19             A.        You cannot cover up lies with a claim that you were making a joke.             B.        We are judged by what we say, even the casual things said without much thought – Matthew 12:35-37                         1.         Why?…

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Ways to Find the Lost

by Whit Sasser The following are some of the ways an individual can find those who are disposed of heart to become Christians; with the hope that once they hear the gospel, they will obey it, to the saving of their souls. Some of the ways require much money; some are practically cost-free. Some involve…

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What Is Teaching?

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/What-Is-Teaching.mp3 Text: Hebrews 5:6-6:3   I.         Teaching is a duty within the church             A.        Ephesians 4:11 – Listed with apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors.             B.        Acts 13:1 – Antioch had prophets and teachers             C.        I Corinthians 12:28-29 – Listed among apostles and prophets.             D.        Romans 12:6-8 – Teaching is a gift to be exercised to our best ability             E.        Paul performed…

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